Media To Mention
A fortnight in media I watched/read/listened to
I’m sure you wouldn’t think this about me, but I’m a very moody person!
As such, those moods need to be placated by a very sad film (Autumn in New York) a witty, stylish romcom (The Talented Mr Ripley) or a fantastic, cancelled, comfort TV show that keeps on giving (The Mindy Project season 1-3 ONLY) and I’m assuming—since you read my newsletter—that you’re nosy, and you wanna know what I’m watching, and honestly, it’s one of the things I love about you. So while we await theh release of Lindsay Lohan’s new film Irish Wish (March 15th), welcome to a new series here at Now That I Mention It called Media To Mention! It’s like Letterboxd but better.
TV Series
Belgravia: The Next Chapter (2024) - Prime Video/MGM
I absolutely LOVE a period piece. This series is everything people who love period pieces could want. It’s messy and the costume designer clocked IN! As the title suggests, it’s actually a continuation of Belgravia, if you can believe it or not! Closer to Downton Abbey than Gilded Age, if you even care.
Mary & George (2024) - SkyAtlantic
Stars Julianne Moore (of Still Alice fame, a movie you should absolutely watch) as a mother to her gay son George Villiers played by Nicholas Galitzine (of Red White & Royal Blue) as scheming poors Mary and George Villiers who want to become rich by using Nicholas’ beauty to seduce the gay King James. Good luck with that!
The Gentlemen (2024) - Netflix
Stars Theo James as a gentleman I want to hug n kiss. I actually didn’t finish this series, the episodes are like an hour long (instead of 40-ish minutes) and I got bored! It’s not as fast-paced as Guy Ritchie’s other projects and it doesn’t star Tom Hardy as a gay man named Handsome Bob like Rock N Rolla! Boy wyd!
Boarders (2024) - BBC/Tubi
Five underprivileged Black students in London attend a wealthy private school, hilarity ensues. No really, like hilarity ENSUES. The writing is so brilliant, I loved this show, but it could have been gayer!
Is it the luck of the Irish or is it just Lindsay Lohan’s impact? This month, save 20% on your subscription by subscribing for a year! Besides, this newsletter is made possible in part by readers like you—and Jake Gyllenhaal (I know you’re reading this!)
Movies
It Had To Be You (2000) - Prime Video
This is another romcom (readers may remember I’m writing one) starring Natasha Henstridge and Michael Vartan about two people planning a wedding who fall in love with each other. Unfortunately—and I don’t do this often—I had to tap out. It was SO BAD. One of those let’s throw two beautiful people in a movie and they’ll be fine, and it’s like actually babe, no.
Upgraded (2024) - Prime Video
Girl. The romcoms with no chemistry? An epidemic. And I know I said I don’t tap out often, but I tapped out of this too.
Hitch (2005)
Few romcoms stand the test of time—Hitch, is one of them. The pacing is perfect, the chemistry is amazing, the story is heartwarming, and it’s such a love-letter to New York. They really don’t make em like this no more.
Dune I & II (2021/2024) - Max & In Theatres
I’m not much for sci-fi, but I try to support Zendaya every chance I can, so when Dune II was released, I finally gave in and realized I had to watch the first one so I could see the second one after my best friend kept saying it was the best film he’d ever seen. Strangely, I really enjoyed the first one, and loved the second one! So much so that I was even entertaining reading all the books just so I could find out how the story ends, but then two days later I gave up on that idea. I’m a Gemini! Justice for naked Oscar Isaac and his stinky breath!
Ricky Stanicky (2024) - Prime Video
You know Who TF Did I Marry, that 50 part TikTok by Reesa Teesa that everyone (not me) watched so much that it got on her daytime talk shows and signed with a major agency? Well Ricky Stanicky—starring John Cena and Zac Efron—is that, but spread across three lying men. Sadly, John Cena isn’t even shirtless in this movie—but he was naked at the Oscars, so honestly, win/win.
Filmés
I know you’re probably like how are filmés different from movies? And if you have to ask, babe—you just wouldn’t get it!
Love and Human Remains (1993) - Prime Video
Originally adapted from a play, I don’t actually remember how I made my way to this filmé, I think because I saw photos of a young Thomas Gibson (Dharma & Greg)
Books & Articles
The House on Via Gemito by Dominico Starnone
Originally published in 2000, it was translated from Italian to English in 2023, and it literally stopped me in my tracks in the bookstore because the cover is gorgina. Brilliant storytelling.
How Y’all Doin? by Leslie Jordan
I’ve been thinking a lot about our pint sized prince lately, to have a life full of tales and have it gone so suddenly—even though he was old, he died from a car accident not old age! He was robbed! But his audiobook is SO funny, I love when celebs read their own audiobooks because they’re often filled with asides, and I’m just glad he got to tell his own story, on his own terms.
Team Deakins Podcast f/ Cord Jefferson
If you haven’t seen the Oscar winning filmé American Fiction—you need to see it, and then after you see it, go back and listen to the writer/director’s episode on Roger Deakins’ podcast. It’s brilliant, and if you feel like you’re in a rut, baby it’s gonna break you OUT of it!
Also, if you have recommendations of things you’ve enjoyed lately, I’d love to hear them!
Oh please go back to The Gentlemen when you're able--the eps are long but it picks back up and then there's the Theo of it all. I may rewatch!